Down to TMC or Maverick...

Discussion in 'TMC' started by SteelPhoenix, Feb 2, 2014.

  1. Richter

    Richter Road Train Member

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    Philadelphia Pa
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    i worked for TMC for 2 years. i then bought my own truck and left them to pull vans. Im now coming back (starting Monday) because vans are boring and tmc was a good company to work for. This time though, with my own truck.

    % pay....i have another thread going into the detail of how it works.


    That being said, I made 64K my first year. Normal drivers make at least 45k. Good drivers should have no trouble making 55k. 800-1000 a week is normal although the hardest working drivers make more. I became a trainer after a year and was on track to make 85k that year, but quit half way through. Pulling power.....they are company trucks, you cant expect much. I don't think the 9's are much worse then the 13's but i only drove a 9 for a driver test and never really put it through the paces. The 579's have cummings engines with have a wider peak power range. They can handle a wider range of rpm and stay powerful. The cats on the 379 have only about 300 rpms where they really shine. To keep it in that peek area you need mroe gears to make the rpm drop between shifts less. In theory anyway, the 9's wont be much worse. You will miss being able to split a gear on an up hill though. So in short, neither is great at pulling hills fast, but tmc is all about pay per load not pay per mile. If you can make more driving a slow truck with less miles, who cares how many miles you drive and that its slow.

    Id say they are on par with many other company trucks. You still will get passed by owner ops and companies that Governor at 65 instead of 63.
     
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  3. Richter

    Richter Road Train Member

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    Yes they are on elogs now unless you get one of the 387 trucks. They are ugly, but nice on the inside. They are selling them all though. That being said, I disagree when you say you cant get rich driving a truck. I made a real good living. If your a trainer you can easily make 80k+ and in my book, that's some nice dough. most of the tmd freght pays good. Youw ill get a bad load here and there, but its all about what you average. if you have a killer week, put a few bucks aside for the not so good week.
     
  4. class7pup

    class7pup Bobtail Member

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    Right time right place. And of course a dispatcher thatss worth half a you know what. You can i suppose, not impossible. I never trained with them but i also never lived in a great freight location for them either. But in the end, i would work for them again if i wasnt doin what im doin now...
     
  5. Richter

    Richter Road Train Member

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    Thats up to you. You choose how long you take on breaks, how hard you run, if you sleep at consignee, if you leave out sunday. being in the right place at the right time doesn't happen by accident. The best loads are given out by 9 am. If your still on your way to the cosign since you didnt sleep there your not gonna get the best load.

    "Fleet Manager" they have pet peeve about being called dispatchers lol. But yea, a few suck, most are good. if you don't like um switch. Disbatchers reward their hardest working drivers with the best freght. I was driver of the quarter in my fleet (out of 40 trucks or so) at least once or twice. I also got the best loads and the best opportunity to stay at the top.
     
    class7pup Thanks this.
  6. class7pup

    class7pup Bobtail Member

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    Jan 25, 2014
    Southern West Virginia
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    All my friend. But northern wisconsin aint the most tmc driver friendly hence why i moved on to bigger things. Im not dowing tmc at all. I just needed to get my feet wet there as haulin cattle under the table with my old man didnt really count towards verifiable experience.. lol. The few times ive seen a black n chrome on the shoulder tho ive always stopped n checked on em. Good bunch of guys.
     
  7. Richter

    Richter Road Train Member

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    i dont think we have anyhting in Wisconsin. If you dont stay out 2 weeks at a time u'll have trouble getting great freght there.
     
  8. class7pup

    class7pup Bobtail Member

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    Suckville.. thats about it from what i remembdr. Besides a little lumber up towards gb/oshkosh
     
  9. Ford L8000

    Ford L8000 Medium Load Member

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    I'm in a similar situation, trying to choose between Melton and TMC. My ultimate goal is to go into heavy hauling, I know TMC has specialized but it's pretty hard to get into from what I've been told. Are they getting 388's as well as the 579's to replace the 379's, 387's, and T800's?
     
  10. Richter

    Richter Road Train Member

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    Where are you from? I'm not sure what the specialized will be driving. boat drivers will have 579...most otr will have 579. I thinkt hey are keeping some 388 for the local guys,,,we dont have tons of 388. the 387 and 379 are replaced with 579. Most of the new fleet will be 587, pluss a few odd balls for special and local.

    The boat div isnt hard to get onto if your a good driver. they do require you to stay out longer though. John deere might need more experience, but if your int he right location you can get specialized after 6 month
     
  11. Ford L8000

    Ford L8000 Medium Load Member

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    When I get out of the Army, I'll be living in the Bristol, TN area. I know that is a sweet spot for flatbed freight, don't know about specialized or boats lol
     
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